Contamination Plume Sinking Deeper

The contaminated plume under Salina’s Airport Industrial Area is sinking deeper.

Ahead of Friday’s update on the cleanup process, Utilities Director Martha Tasker with the City of Salina tells KSAL News there have been some surprises along the way as crews track the plume, “It’s deeper, it’s moved down into the bedrock,” she said.

Tasker added, “Basically there is cracks and openings in that bedrock that has allowed it to move down there,” she said.

“That’s a little something different that we weren’t expecting.”

Tasker says there is no imminent threat of the contamination getting into the city water supply and that the plume has not moved or spread to a great degree.

Investigation of Salina’s underground plume of contamination began in earnest in 2014 after years of legal wrangling between the City of Salina, Airport Authority and U. S. Air Force to determine who would pay for the cleanup.

Solvents that were used to clean aircraft at the base seeped into the ground and created a toxic mix with the ground water.

A public meeting will be held Friday morning at 9:00 in room 107 of the Salina City-County Building.

The Dragun Corporation has been working on the investigation and will provide a summary of work that has been completed and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will provide comments and answer questions.